Unwrapping Christmas…Hope

On account of sin, people are alienated from God and cut off from fellowship with him. Through Jesus Christ, God reconciles the world to himself, breaking down the barriers of hostility and estrangement. This is the Hope that we have in Christ Jesus.

Eph. 2:12 (NKJV) that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The New King James Version. (1982). (Eph 2:12–13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

HOPE…An expectation or belief in the fulfillment of something desired. Present hurts and uncertainty over what the future holds create the constant need for hope. Worldwide poverty, hunger, disease, and human potential to generate terror and destruction create a longing for something better. Historically, people have looked to the future with a mixture of longing and fear. Many have concluded that there is no reasonable basis for hope and therefore that to hope is to live with an illusion. Scripture tells us that those who do not have God do not have hope (Eph 2:12).

Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001). In Tyndale Bible dictionary (p. 611). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

A broken relationship through sin brings alienation from God

Sin and wickedness in our lives puts a wall between us and God. This barrier of sin will keep us from experiencing the blessing of salvation…His favor and protection. This wall also keeps our prayers from being answered!

Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV) — 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

Isaiah 48:22 (NKJV) — 22 “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

Though our sinful state had separated us from the Father, we are not without Hope. You see God knew that a way would have to be made for us. This is not a new plan; it was the plan from the start…

Gen. 3:15 (NKJV) And I will put enmity

Between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her Seed;

He shall bruise your head,

And you shall bruise His heel.”

The New King James Version. (1982). (Ge 3:15). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

God takes the initiative in bringing about reconciliation

As we come up to this Christmas, let us remember that Jesus is the reason for it all. We were hopelessly lost and could never have saved ourselves…BUT GOD! He saved us!!

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 (NKJV) — 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Reconciliation is effective for every single person through his or her personal repentance and their faith in Christ. The church has been given the Ministry of Reconciliation. It’s our responsibility to call everyone to be Reconciled to the Father.

The means of reconciliation is the death of Jesus Christ

Jesus made a way where there was no way!

Romans 5:6 (NKJV) — 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

The results of reconciliation are both personal and universal…

Peace with God…

Because of Christ work of Reconciliation, we now have peace with God.

Romans 5:1 (NKJV) — 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Access to God…

We have access to our Father that we did not have before. Now I can come before His throne for help in my times of need.

Romans 5:2 (NKJV) — 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Adoption as God’s children…

We are Sons and Daughters of the King!!!

Romans 8:15–16 (NKJV) — 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

This Christmas let’s remember that all of our Hope rest in and on Jesus alone.